Fore-end for breech-loading fire-arms



(No Model.)

G. H. POX.

FORE-END FOR BREEGH LOADING FIRE ARMS.

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: NIT STATES;

PATENT FFICE.

FORE-END FOR BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed March 3, 1883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HENRY Fox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fore-Ends for Breech- Loading Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such 'as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for securing in place the fore-end, so called, of a breech-loading fire-arm, in which the rear end of the barrel raises and lowers in the act of opening or closing such barrel.

My invention consists in a simple latch .pivoted at its lower end within a metallic strap, constituting part of the fore-end, the upper end ot'thislatch beingcrowded forward against a rigid stop upon said strap by a spring operating against its rear side, while the front face of the latch impinges against a stud depending from the under side of the barrehwith a degree of friction due to the stress of the spring, one especial object of my device being to crowd the rear end of the fore part closely up to thefront end of the receiver, keeping it firm and preventing it from becoming loose.

' My invention also relates to means for preventing escape of the spring from its inclosure in the strap, which consists in forming a spur in the metal of the strap, and alter the spring has been inserted in its inclosure turning this spur downward over the end of said inclosure, as hereinafter explained.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent in Figure 1 a longitudinal section of a fore-end containing my invention, while Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on line 1 2, and Fig. 3 a like section on line 3 4.

In said drawings, A represents a portion of the rear end of the barrel of a breech-loading shot-gun; B, the boss, secured to the under side of the latter and containing the extractor; O, the semi-socketin the front of such boss, to receive the hinge-pin D, which connects the barrel with the front end of the receiver or breech-frame E of the arm.

Patent No. 278,423, dated May 29, 1883.

(No model.)

F'represents the wooden body of the fore part of the stock, and G the metallic strap secured to or within such-fore part, while H represents the semisocketed head in which the rear end of the fore part terminates, this head in the present instance being cast integral with the strap G. The rear end ofthe head H is concave to fit and turn upon thet'ront end of the receiver E after the manner ofthis class of arms in general.

One essential object of my invention is to take up wear. This I accomplish by crowding the fore part toward and against the receiver, creating compensation for wear.

In carrying out my invention I employ the usual stud or abutment, I, depending from the under side of the barrel, and I employ in cooperation with this stud a snap lever or latch, J, disposed within the slot a. in the strap G, which receives the stud I, this latch J being pivoted at its lower end longitudinally within such slot by a pivot, b, and with its upper and free end crowded outward against an abutment, 0, ot'said strap by a coiled spring, (1, contained in arecess, e, in said strap in rear ofthe abutment 0, such spring exertingits stress between the latch J and the rear end of said re cess. The outer front side,f, of thelatch J is crowning to adapt itself to and hug the rear face, g, of the stud I, which is slightly concave to receive it, the two being confined together by the pressure of the spring (Z, which is readily overcome when it is desired to detach the fore end.

In my device the locking snap or latch oper ates against the rear side of the stud I, and tends 'to maintain a tight joint Jetween the fore part and receiver.

To confine the spring (1 within its inclosure I employ a spur, h, extending rearward from the latch I, which enters the front end of such spring, and I cast in the metal of the strap G, at the rear boundary of the recess 0, a pendent lip, 11, which, after the spring has been inserted, is turned down over the rear end of the recess, and so as to prevent escape of the rear end of the spring.

I claim-- 1. In combination with the barrel, receiver, and fore-end, and the stud I, depending from such barrel, the springactuated latch J, operrating against the rear face of the said stud,

tially as described.

the free end of said latch bearingagainstja'n purpose of looking t-he fore-end and barrel toabntment of the strapto determine its extent gethensnbstzintially a'sgs etg fo'rth. 10 of forward movement, and operating substan- In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

2. A fore-end strap provided with a lip, i, GEO. HENRY FOX.

which formsareceptacleforone end ofaspring, Witnesses: I v in combination with said' spring; and with a H. E. LODGE, Y latch which is operated by said spring for the i F. CURTIS. 

